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A Few Words and then Going down the Road with Peter

I need to say a few words about abortion before we get to the study on 1 Peter. Ladies, if you have had an abortion,then you know better than I what the effects are on you mentally, emotionally, and physically. I am not passing judgment on you if you have had an abortion,that is not for me to do. And I have nothing but compassion for you. The issue of abortion is not a political issue as some have made it, but it is a moral issue. The bottom line on this issue seems to be when life begins. But it goes much deeper than that. Fact is, it takes two to make a baby. We just studied the nativity accounts- and every time the unborn child was mentioned they were referred to as a baby or as a child. This makes it clear from a biblical standpoint -life begins at conception. There are those that will argue about cases of rape and incest- the fact is these account for less than 1% of all pregnancies. It does not matter how the child was conceived, it is still a life and it is a human life. Ladies, if you find yourself in this situation and for whatever reason, feel you cannot take care of the baby, seek help from one of the many Women’s Resource Center’s or Crisis Pregnancy Centers that are in almost every community. They will get you in touch with the right people to help you and guide in making the tough decisions that will be what is right for all involved, you, your child, and the father.

The Bible definitely teaches that the unborn are persons because the unborn possess personal attributes, are described by personal pronouns, Jesus is called a child at conception, the unborn are called children, are protected by the same punishment as for adults, are called by God before birth, and are known personally by God just like any other person. Since abortion is murdering a person, abortion is morally wrong (Gen. 9:6; Rom. 1:28-29).

The following is a quote from elsewhere, I do not recall where I found this at but I liked the argument so well that I did a copy and paste of it several months ago and saved it.

Many people will refuse to accept God’s word as a standard by which they should live and make decisions. That is their right to reject it. Nevertheless, I offer the following as reasons for not having abortions.

What is growing in the womb of the woman is alive.

Even one-celled creatures are alive.

What is growing in the woman is more than a one-celled creature.

The nature of the life in the woman is human.

It is the product of human DNA; therefore, its nature, its essence, is undeniably human.

Because it is human in nature, if left to live, it will result in a fully developed human baby.

Humans are humans not because they have feet, hands, walk vertically, and speak, etc. Not all people have feet, hands, can walk, and speak. They are humans because of their nature, their essence, not because of physical abilities or disabilities.

A person born without arms and legs is still human.

A person who cannot speak is still human.

A person in a coma, helpless, unaware, unmoving, is still human by nature and it is wrong to murder such a person.

What is growing in the womb does not have the nature of an animal, bird, or fish. It has human nature.

If it is not human in nature, then what nature is it?

If it is not human in nature, then does it have a different nature than human?

If so, then from where did it get this different nature, since the only sources of its nature are human egg and human sperm?

Objection: A cell in the body has human DNA and is alive and it’s okay to kill it. So, it doesn’t make any difference with a fetus.

Though it is true that a cell in the human body has DNA and is alive, a cell (muscle cell, skin cell, etc.) has the nature of being only what it is — not a human. In other words, a muscle cell is by nature a muscle cell. A skin cell is by nature a skin cell. But the fertilized egg of a human is, by nature, that very thing which becomes a fully developed human. Its nature is different than that of muscle or skin cells because these do not grow into humans. Therefore, a human cell and a human egg are not the same thing.
A fertilized human egg has the nature of human development and it is alive. This is not so with a muscle or skin cell.

To abort the life, which is human in nature, is to kill that which is human in nature.

Therefore, abortion is killing a life which is human by nature.

Where, then, does the mother get the right to kill the human within her?

A question for those who believe in abortion, and that the life in the womb is not human. Is it okay to take a fertilized egg between a man and a woman and place it in the womb of a dog?

If you say no, then why? If it is not human then it doesn’t matter, right?

If you say no because it will become a human, then you admit that it has human nature and is alive. If it is human in nature and alive, then you do not have the right to abort it.

If you say it is alright, why is it okay?Ok

Ok, lets get back and finish up 1 Peter and tackle a couple of verses from 1 Peter Chapter two.

Verse 15- The word holy is translated from the Hebrew qadash and the Greek hag- and the word means set apart, in this case set apart for sacred use that is that we are set apart to be used by God for His purposes- that we should live lives that show that we totally dedicated to God.

Verse 16- “because it is written,”Be Holy, for I Am holy”” – Again we are live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God. The world should look at how we act and respond to the things that life throws at us and see that it is different than how they would respond to the same things.

Verse 17- Our relationship with God does not mean that we will escape judgment. God is our heavenly Father as well as our earthly judge. This should be understood as something between terror(for the lost) and reverential awe for the believer. We will be judged on our works done in fear. For the believer this has to do with reward for the unbeliever their judgment will be based on works alone.

Verse 18- The basic meaning of the redemption is to release or freedom on payment of a price or deliverance by a costly method. As humans we are slaves to sin and we must be set free to become servants of God. God has redeemed us by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus on the cross. This is a completed act as far as God is concerned. We experience the results of this redemption now in part, and will fully recognize full redemption at the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 19-This compares God’s way of salvation to mans. Precious blood- that word precious in Hebrew often referred to precious stones or possessions, it could also be translated as costly or expensive. There is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. Jesus was the Sacrificial Lamb whose blood was shed for us. He was without sin( without blemish or perfect). The analogy here could refer to the Passover Lamb or the many lambs that were sacrificed to temporarily atone for sin.

Verse 20- God’s plan of salvation was made before the world was even created. Our salvation was not an afterthought of God’s. God planned for it long before the need arose. What was known only to God before the creation is now revealed to us.

Verse 22- The purification of our souls in through obedience to Christ. We do not purify our own souls. This could refer either to the conversion process or to the sanctification process that occurs after the initial conversion.

Verse 23- Born again- this is common phrase today used by many Christians. It is rarely found used in the NT. The phrase refers to a renewing of the spirit that once was dead in sin and once Christ is accepted becomes alive through grace.

This bring us to chapters two and three of the letter that is titled 1 Peter. There are only five chapters in this book but each word is so profound.

As we live in this world and are bound for our home in heaven, we need to keep in God’s Word and prayer constantly. This is what gives us our strength, it is our guide, and it is nourishment for the spirit. It is in this way that we know that God is walking with us and is with us in all of our trials, and it is He that leads us toward our goal of reaching out home in heaven.

1Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Our focus here is on verse 2 – we should long for the study of God’s word with all of our being. Not just to learn but so that we will grow in the faith and mature in the faith.

4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“ Behold, I lay in ZionA chief cornerstone, elect, precious,And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7Therefore, to you who believe,He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“ The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief cornerstone,”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.9But you area chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10who oncewere not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Just read and contemplate these verse for awhile.

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